(3/5/15)Vince Wilfork, who won a championship once as a rookie and again in February, took to Twitter Thursday morning to announce that the Patriots will not pick up his two-year team option, which will make him a free agent when the league calendar opens on March 10. He was expected to count $8.9 million against the salary cap next season.

"One major injury -- lots of gas still left in the tank," Willfork said in a statement. "I will take my time to think things through..."

Wilfork posted 47 tackles and one interception in 2014. He has registered 516 combined tackles, 16 sacks, four forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries and three interceptions through 11 seasons with the Patriots.

Patriots add DL Cam Henderson to practice squad

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(12/23/14) The Patriots signed defensive lineman Cam Henderson to the practice squad on Tuesday, NESN reports. Henderson was a member of the practice squad earlier this season before he was waived on Sep. 16.

Patriots DST adequate against Jets

by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer

(12/21/14) The Patriots didn't have a monster defensive performance Week 16 at the Jets, recording just two sacks with one takeaway, an interception by Jamie Collins in the third quarter, but they performed adequately against one of the league's worst offensive teams, allowing 16 points on 307 yards.

It was their fourth game in five allowing less than 20 points. However, it was the just the second time during that same stretch that the Patriots DST didn't score double-digit Fantasy points in standard CBSSports.com leagues.

A lack of big plays are to blame, but those aren't always so predictable from week to week. The Patriots DST has been one of the most consistent in Fantasy this season and has a favorable matchup Week 17 against Buffalo, so keep it active.

Report: Patriots CB Kyle Arrington skips trip to New York

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(12/20/14) Patriots cornerback Kyle Arringtondid not make the trip to New York and will be inactive Week 16 against the Jets, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN on Saturday. Arrington suffered a hamstring injury in a win over the Dolphins in Week 15.

Through 14 games, Arrington has registered 39 combined tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Before getting hurt last week, Arrington recovered a blocked field goal and took it for a 57-yard touchdown.

New England (11-3) is 10 1/2-point favorite on the road against New York (3-11).

Patriots D dominates Dolphins in win

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(12/14/14) The Patriots defense came up with another big performance in Week 15, in a 41-13 win over the Dolphins.

The Patriots gave up 384 yards of total offense to the Dolphins, but held them to just one late touchdown in the first half. They picked Ryan Tannehill off twice and sacked him four times, finishing with 20 Fantasy points for their troubles, their best showing since Week 2.

The Patriots DST has scored in double figures in Fantasy points in three of the last four games, and should be able to keep that going in Week 16, with the Jets on the schedule. The Patriots had just 5 points against the Jets the last time these two met up, but opposing DST units are averaging 12.4 per game against them for the season.

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The Patriots made key additions to their defense last offseason and they paid off in yet another Super Bowl victory. The benefit to Fantasy players was a bit less obvious. They finished ninth in Fantasy scoring among DST units, which was nice, but they went in the ninth round on average in 12-team drafts last season. They were useful for most of the season (10 double-digit Fantasy points efforts), but weren't really a dominant unit at any point (no more than two straight games with 10-plus points.) They lost four starters on defense and might max out as a top-10 unit again. They will be worth drafting but don't reach for them before the final few rounds.
(Updated 4/22/15)